[Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised

[christian okane]

Wow!  Even a thousand miles away Marzac continues to corrupt!


And Rickkter had be VERY careful that Misha doesn't find out about him being
spanked! Misha would NEVER let him live it down! He'd use jokes like "It
must have been embarrassing UNLESS Rick liked being spanked!"


Chris
The Lurking Fox



-----Original Message-----
From: mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org
[mailto:mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org] On Behalf Of C. Matthias
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 10:13 AM
To: Metamor Keep
Subject: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised

I want to apologize to Chris Hoekstra.  When adding his edits I missed a big
chunk in this section.  I hope that I haven't missed any others.  Here is
the revised version of the Epilogue with the changes made.

---------


Epilogue


Unable to do anything to help the hawks, once they were all dressed, they
accepted Christina's invitation to a real meal at her husband's tavern a
short walk from the barracks. The tavern, which sported a kingfisher lifting
a tankard to its beak with its toes, was modest in comparison to the Deaf
Mule or the other taverns in Keeptowne, but it was clean, with sweet
smelling candles and lanterns that cast a warm light in almost every corner,
sturdy long tables with enough space between each to keep tails from being
stepped on, and plenty of thick, frothing ale, smoked fish, and savory bread
to sate all their appetites.

Murikeer was not content to trust that Weyden would keep Jessica safe, and
so had tied a very small tracking spell to his wings as they made ready to
leave. So even as he ate and drank, enjoying the company of his friends, and
the bemused glances that Christina gave them all when she served them their
drinks, he could feel along that spell through the discomfort it brought him
to know how the hawks were doing.

With the storm overhead there was nowhere for him or the others to go so
they relaxed in the tavern telling stories, eating, drinking, and doing
their best not to talk about their recent three hours of childhood. Murikeer
enjoyed watching his friends relax and enjoy themselves, even if it wasn't
until the storm grew its worst over the lake, pounding the tavern roof and
flashing in the narrow windows that he was able to relax.

He could feel through his little spell Weyden's relief. He wasn't sure where
the hawks were beyond their general direction, but wherever it was they must
be safe. By that hour is was late and he knew that they would have to either
accept Naomi's offer of a place in the barracks to sleep or find a room for
himself. Lester, Christina's husband, boasted about the half-dozen rooms he
had available and the skunk mage was leaning toward seeing if they were as
comfortable as the leopard claimed.

A familiar figure settled in next to him with a fresh tankard of ale. The
raccoon grinned and dipped his snout into the froth and lapped it clean.
"Ah, a very satisfying way to end the day. 
It is good to work together again, is it not, Muri?"

"We didn't do much," Muri said with a shrug. "But at least the hawks are
safe now."

"I know," Rickkter grinned, his striped tail flicking upward and almost
landing on the bench. 
"Tracking spells are wonderful things."

"I didn't see yours," the skunk admitted with a nod of his head. "You are
getting better at that, master." The last he added with a chortle. 
Rickkter had long since recognized Murikeer's mastery in magic and was
content to be friend rather than tutor and mentor.

"Who says I cast my own?" The raccoon's snout broke into another smile as he
glanced across several tables to where Charles and James the donkey were
enjoying their evening meal. He then sipped his ale again. "I trust things
are still well with you and Kozaithy?"
"They are. She's enjoying the country far more than the Keep."

"Have you taken on any more students, besides her and Lady Kimberly?"

"Not as of yet. Kozaithy still summons more smoke than flame, but Kimberly
is proving herself capable." Murikeer nodded and wrapped his paw about the
mazer of half drunk ale sitting on the table in front of him. "Kimberly is
more skilled with magic than I had first suspected, but it will be many
years yet before I teach her anything more dangerous than lighting candles."

He smiled fondly remembering their last session a few days ago. "She says
she hopes that I would teach her children if any of them show any talent.
She was dancing a witchlight around and letting her children try and catch
it. That was... a true wonder."

The raccoon's eyes grew distant and in them the skunk saw the hint of a
pleasant memory. But the moment past with a blink and Rickkter's gaze
returned to him. "Do you recall, when I first took you on as an apprentice,
why I was reluctant to do so? The welfare of the student; this is an
obligation a master possesses by virtue of being master." He nodded toward
the rat. "She is your obligations, same as you were mine."

"I know that," Muri replied with a frown. "Why are you..." he followed the
raccoon's gaze and saw the table where Charles and James were attempting to
drink with their arms intertwined. "So it's about him."

"He's the last of the Marzac party still here in the valley. And he is the
last of them to manifest it. There is no question of if he will, only when
he turns toward that evil." Rickkter lifted his mazer to his snout but did
not drink. 
"And when that happens, and it will happen, I think the best person to save
him will be Lady Kimberly. Or perhaps his children. But at the same time,
they will be in greater danger than the rest of us." He narrowed his eyes
and fixed Muri with a stern gaze. "You need to make sure she's prepared for
it."

He took a deep breath and licked the back of his fangs. "Charles has told
her about Marzac and she knows what happened to James. She's not stupid. 
She knows what it means for Charles."

"Knowing and admitting out loud are two different things."

"As you say," Muri conceded though in his heart he hoped that there would
still be some way yet for Charles to avoid the corruption. "Why do you say
she could best help him?"

"It seems to be the one weakness of Marzac - the only weakness that I can
think of. Think back on the last times its arisen, those who turned the
battle against it. This time Jessica had Weyden. 
Before that, James had Baerle, and Kayla had me. 
When it comes for Charles, Kimberly, or perhaps one of his children, stand
the greatest chance of turning him away from it."

"You were also its target. Kayla tried to destroy you with it. Same for
Jessica." He sighed heavily, his tail lashing about his legs. "And you're
also thinking the same for Charles."

"It fits the pattern. We've dealt with it three times; we've beaten it three
times. We know this, and worst of all, it knows this. I fear it may try
something different this time. Thankfully Charles' power is not as... far
reaching as Jessica's is. Whatever happens will be... personal."

Murikeer sipped at his ale and then licked his whiskers with a grimace. "Now
even mere hours ago we defeat this thing and here we sit worrying and
growing paranoid about the next time."

"Because when facing the inevitable, there's often little else one can do."
Rickkter swirled his own drink and took a sip. "A last thing; Marzac seems
to need an anchor in this world. To my knowledge Charles does not have any
artifacts that could talk to him. Kayla had the swords, James the bell, and
Jessica the hyacinth. To beat this, we need to figure out what Charles has.
It may already be twisting his mind and we just haven't seen it."

"I cannot think of anything myself," Muri conceded. "I will be sure to speak
with Kimberly tomorrow. She is due for another lesson anyway. 
But Rick, this is going to upset her very deeply."

"Such is Marzac," Rickkter took a long swill of ale and sloshed it between
his fangs before swallowing. A little dribbled out either side of his jowls
and he wiped them on his sleeve. "And you know what... even with all this,
I'm still pissed that I didn't get to go with them into that hell!"

Murikeer managed a laugh. But his eye kept straying to the rat a few tables
away. What evil would Marzac seek through him? He dipped his snout into his
mazer and drank. He would not sleep well tonight.

----------

Mother Wilfrida, unable to sleep, waddled along the makeshift convent still
under construction. 
The storm had passed Metamor a few hours ago, but still her mind could not
settle itself. The mallard knew that something must be amiss for her to find
it so hard to take her sleep. In a couple of hours she and the other sisters
would rise for the early morning prayers before they began a new day of
cleaning, prayer, and tending the poor of Metamor.

She always trusted Eli had a reason to keep her from sleeping on nights like
this. She kept her prayer beads in one wing arm and counted her Hail Yanlins
with expectancy, asking that most holy of women what it might be but she
knew the answer would only come when it was ready.

After seven decades the answer arrived. There was a timorous knock on the
convent door. Curious, the mallard waddled over and eased the door open. 
Standing before her in torn trousers and a grease stained linen shirt was an
animal child. She did not recognize the species, but he had a long, thick
tail jutting out behind him with a black tip, a flat head with large eyes,
round ears, and black paws for hands. In fact, as she looked at him she
wondered if perhaps he was more beast than child.

"What may I do for you, child?"

The creature ducked his head once as if gathering courage, and then looked
at her bill. "Mother, I... I need your help. You're the only one I can think
of who can help."

"What is it you need help with little one?"

His face twisted in a way that she had learned in her five months here at
Metamor was an embarrassed grimace. "There's... um.... there's a bunch.... a
bunch of orphans, Mother. A bunch of orphans." He nodded and slapped his
tail against the wet stones. "A bunch of orphans who need help. We've been
stealing food and other things to live. We need your help."

She blinked, trying to decide whether this fellow was a child or not. His
size and something in his diffidence suggested a child, but not the way he
spoke. "Are you an orphan too?"

"I..." he lowered his head and rubbed one foot over the other. "I am,
Mother. But... not the same as the others. Please help me help the rest. 
They need mothers and fathers to care for them and teach them right."

Wilfrida bent down, pushing the door open all the way. "We will certainly
help them. And you. Do you need a mother and father too?" She wasn't sure
what she suspected, but she would find out.

A strange wistfulness came to his face and then he shook his head. "I just
need to help them, Mother. And prayers.... I never much paid attention to
that when I really was a child."

The nun extended a wing and waddled forward a step. "What is your name,
little one?"

He looked up at her and sighed, a tear dripping down one cheek. "Kuna." He
took a step back. "I have to go or they'll miss me. I'll be back soon. Thank
you, Mother!"

She tried to stop him but the little fellow dropped to all fours and
scampered down the road and out of sight. Wilfrida stood at the doorway for
several seconds before she admitted that he wasn't coming back. She eased
the door closed and counted off another few decades for all of the orphans
of Metamor.

END OF DOMINION OF THE HYACITH

----------



May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,

Charles Matthias

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